Home Office, Whitehall

17 October 1940

By Sarah Allen

Late on 17 October 1940 a high explosive bomb hit the pavement in front of the Home Office (Britain's domestic policy ministry formed in 1782 and rebuilt facing Whitehall between 1898-1917). The bomb tore up the road surface and damaged the water and coal gas mains underneath. The adjacent Colonial Office building was largely unharmed.

At 12.15am 18 October an ARP message was received requesting an ambulance for the Scottish Office (Dover House) close by. One injury from these two bombs was recorded.

Today, the former Home Office building is occupied by three UK government departments: The Treasury, Department of Culture and Sport and HM Revenue & Customs.